Roller cone bit

ABSTRACT

A roller cone bit is described. The roller cone bit includes a body having concave sides. Legs are attached or integral to the body. Roller cones are rotatably engaged to the legs. The concave sides are positioned adjacent the legs. A nozzle is positioned in an approximately central portion of the body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and improved roller cone bit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roller cone bits are used to drill into the earth during mining anddrilling operations. Drilling fluids are pumped through the roller conebit to flush out drill cuttings. The roller cone bits include rollerscones that rotatably connect to the bit via a bearing system. The rollercones rotate as the roller cone bit bores into the earth.

Unfortunately, the design of many existing roller cone bitsinadvertently forces drill cuttings into the bearing system of theroller cone bit. When using the roller cone bit, the drilling fluid isshot through flushing nozzles of the roller cone bit, at a high pressureand volume, down to the drilling surface to exhaust the drill cuttingsfrom the bore hole. The flushing nozzles are generally positioned atlateral sides of the bit; however, this combination of the positioningof the flushing nozzles at the lateral sides of the bit and the drillingfluids being sprayed through the nozzles causes the drill cuttings to gointo the bearings of the roller cone bits, which causes premature wearon the bit. This premature wear may lead to failure of the roller conebit.

The design of many existing roller cone bits provides otherdisadvantages. The flushing nozzles positioned on the lateral sides ofroller cone bits often wash away the side walls of the bore hole in softformations, which makes it next to impossible for the bit to be guidedin the direction needed.

In some existing roller cone bits, a center flushing nozzle has beenused in the body of the bit. However, the distance between the lateralsides of the body of the bit and the roller cones can create a severeventuri effect, which sucks the drill cuttings in to the roller conesand washes away the metal from around the roller cones of the rollercone bit. This also creates tremendous problems because such bits areinjecting drilling fluids under high-pressure and at high-volume, makingit very hard for the drill cuttings to get away from the cutting surfaceof the bore hole, which slows down penetration of the bit and decreasesthe life of the bit. Further, such drill cuttings cause the bit to failto have a good course of direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A roller cone bit with a central, extended nozzle and concave sides isdescribed. The roller cone bit provides enhanced flushing of drillcuttings, improved durability, and improved directional control asherein described. The roller cone bit includes an extended nozzle or atube that extends from a center of a body of the roller cone bit. Theextended nozzle or tube is generally centered between cones of theroller cone bit. The nozzle applies a high pressure or a high volume ofa drilling fluid depending upon the drilling conditions. The roller conebit further includes concaved body portions or fluted walls. The concavebody portions or fluted walls form gaps or recessed areas to provide forthe drill cuttings and drilling fluid to flow past an exterior of theroller cone bit and flush from the bore hole. The concave body portionsor fluted walls draw the drill cuttings away from a center of the rollercone bit.

In a first aspect, a roller cone bit is described. The roller cone bitincludes a body having concave sides. Legs are attached or integral tothe body with roller cones rotatably engaged with the legs. The concavesides are positioned adjacent the legs. A nozzle is positioned in anapproximately central portion of the body. The nozzle includes anextending portion and an opening, and the opening is positioned adistance from a surface of the body.

In another aspect, a method of drilling into a rock or earth formationis described. The method includes providing a roller cone bit includinga body having concave sides, legs attached or integral to the body,roller cones rotatably engaged to the legs, the concave sides positionedadjacent the legs, and a nozzle. The nozzle includes an extendingportion and an opening. The nozzle is positioned in an approximatelycentral portion of the body, and the opening is positioned a distancefrom a surface of the body. The method includes connecting the rollercone bit to a drill string and rotating the roller cone bit. The methodincludes directing fluid to the nozzle and flushing drill cuttings withthe fluid past the concave sides.

In another aspect, a roller cone bit is described. The roller cone bitincludes a body having concave sides. Legs are attached or integral tothe body. Roller cones are rotatably engaged to the legs. The concavesides are positioned adjacent the legs to provide flushing of drillcuttings from a borehole. The roller cone bit includes a nozzle to spraya drilling fluid. The nozzle includes an extending portion and anopening. The nozzle is positioned in an approximately central portion ofthe body. The opening is positioned a distance from a surface of thebody.

In another aspect, a roller cone bit to drill into earth or rock isdescribed. The roller cone bit includes a body. The body includes anupper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a threadedconnection portion to connect with a drill string to rotate the rollercone bit. Three legs are attached or integral to a perimeter of thebody. Each of the legs has an end at the lower portion of the body. Aroller cone is rotatably engaged to the ends of each of the legs via abearing system. Each of roller cones includes an inner cutter, a centercutter, and an outer cutter. The body has three concave sides extendingfrom the upper portion to the lower portion. The concave sides arepositioned between the legs. The concave sides form gaps to flush drillcuttings. A nozzle extends from the lower portion of the body to spray adrilling fluid. The nozzle includes an extending portion and an opening.The nozzle is positioned in an approximately central portion of thelower portion of the body. The nozzle extends to a point approximatelyclearing the center cutter of the roller cone bit. The nozzle is influidic communication with a fluid line of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of the roller cone bit.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the roller cone bit.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the roller cone bit.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the roller cone bit.

FIG. 5A shows a threading engagement between the nozzle and the body ofthe roller cone bit.

FIG. 5B shows a binding taper engagement between the nozzle and the bodyof the roller cone bit.

FIG. 5C shows a fix welded engagement between the nozzle and the body ofthe roller cone bit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A roller cone bit will now be described with reference to the figures.The roller cone bit includes a nozzle that extends from a center of abody of the roller cone bit. The roller cone bit further includesconcaved sides between legs of the body of the roller cone bit. Thenozzle and concaved sides improve flushing of drill cuttings from thebore hole by directing the drill cuttings away from a center of theroller cone bit. The drill cuttings flush to the concave sides, whichtypically provide an unobstructed path for the drill cuttings to exitthe bore hole.

A roller cone bit 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The roller cone bit 10 isattached to a drill string of a drilling rig. The roller cone bit 10includes a plurality of cones 100 that are used for drilling or cuttinginto rock or earth. The cones 100 rotate to cut and grind the earth orrock formation, as the drill string is rotated and urged downward by thedrilling rig.

As shown in FIG. 1, the roller cone bit 10 includes a cone 100 a, a cone100 b, and a cone 100 c. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the cones 100 a-cinclude an inner cutter 110, a center cutter 120, and an outer cutter130 that form a cutting surface for the cones 100 a-c. Each of the cones100 a-c are generally an integral structure. The cones 100 a-c vary indiameter from approximately one inch to approximately 8 inches. Thecenter of the cones 100 a-c will generally have an approximately zerodiameter. The inner cutter 110 is generally smaller in size or diameteras compared to the center cutter 120, and the center cutter 120 isgenerally smaller in size or diameter as compared to the outer cutter130. The cutters 110, 120, and 130 include one or more protrusions 135that cut into the earth or rock. Typically, a plurality of theprotrusions 135 are positioned about the periphery or exterior of thecutters 110, 120, and 130. The protrusions 135 may include a combinationof different sized and shaped teeth, nubs, or other cutting structures.

With reference to FIG. 1, the cones 100 a-c form a groove 133 betweenthe outer cutter 130 and the center cutter 120 and a groove 123 betweenthe center cutter 120 and the inner cutter 110. These grooves 123 and133 allow the protrusions 135 of one of the rotating cones 100 a-c toclear the adjacent rotating cone 100 a-c, as the protrusions 135 mayenter the grooves 123 and 133 of the adjacent cones 100 a-c during therotation of the cones 100 a-c. Further, for each cone 100 a-c, theprotrusions 135 are typically positioned offset from the protrusions 135on the adjacent cone 100 a-c. This allows the protrusions 135 on thecones 100 a-c to interweave or mesh with the protrusions 135 on theadjacent cones 100 a-c. This reduces open space between the rotatingcones 100 a-c and the protrusions 135 and provides the protrusions 135with maximum surface contact in the drilling face.

The roller cone bit 10 includes a body 200. The body 200 has a generallycylindrical shape forming an exterior surface 225. The cones 100 a-c arepositioned on one end of the body 200 The roller cone bit 10 furtherincludes a threaded connecting portion 400 to connect with the remainderof the drilling string. The threaded connecting portion 400 is formed onthe opposite end of the body 200 from the cones 100 a-c.

The body 200 includes a plurality of legs 150 that are attached orintegral with the body 200. The roller cone bit 10 of FIGS. 1-3 includesthree legs 150. As shown in FIG. 1, the body 200 includes a leg 150 a, aleg 150 b, and a leg 150 c.

Each of the legs 150 a-c includes an end 160 a-c that rotatably connectsto the cones 100 a-c by a bearing system 140. The bearing system 140 mayinclude an open bearing engagement or a sealed bearing engagement. Thebearing system 140 provides for the rotation of the cones 100 a-crelative to the ends 160 a-c. The cones 100 a-c are rotatably connectedto the roller cone bit 10 via the bearing system 140. The ends 160 a-cmay form or include an axis, axle, or pin that engages an interior or aback surface of the cones 100 a-c. Bearings are positioned about theaxis, axle, or pin. The back surface of the cones 100 a-c may include anopen portion to receive the axis, axle, or pin in a bearing engagement.

The legs 150 are circumferentially spaced around the exterior of thebody 200. Generally, the legs 150 are spaced evenly around the exteriorof the body 200. The legs 150 a-c are next to or integral with concavesides 210 in a perimeter 205 of the body 200. One of the concave sides210 is positioned between each of the legs 150 a-c. Generally, theconcave sides 210 are also spaced evenly around the exterior of the body200. The concave sides 210 form flutes on the exterior surface 225 ofthe body 200. A recessed area 215 is formed by the concave side 210. Theconcave sides 210 and the recessed areas 215 provide for drill cuttingsto pass or flush past the roller cone bit 10. This reduces wear on thecones 100 a-c and the bearing system 140, and also improves directionalcontrol of the bit 10.

The concave side 210 may include a curving cut-out, scooped, a curvedspace, or a curved recess between the legs 150 a-c. The concave sides210 may have an arc of approximately 60-70 degrees. Depending upon theapplication and drilling condition, the concave sides 210 may have arcsof approximately 30-60 degrees or approximately 70-100 degrees.

The concave sides 210 generally extend from an upper portion 203 of thebody 200 to a lower portion 207 of the body 200. The concave sides 210generally extend the length of the body 200. A length Y (shown inFIG. 1) of the concave sides 210 is generally parallel to an axis ofrotation of the roller cone bit 10. The concave sides 210 may have adepth into the body 200 of approximately ¼ inch to approximately 2inches.

The concave sides 210, between the legs 150 a-c, where flushing nozzlesare typically located in convention roller cone bits, increases the lifeof the roller cone bit 10 and its rate of penetration into the rock orearth substrate. The concave sides 210 provide for the drill cuttingscut from the bore hole to pass through or by the recessed areas 215 inthe body 200 of the roller cone bit 10 and away from the bearing system140 of the roller cones 100. The concave sides 210 improve penetrationrate because there is less chance to regrind the drill cuttings becausethe drill cuttings have an easier path of little resistance to follow inorder to clear the cutting surface.

The roller cone bit 10 may be formed from steel and other alloyscommonly used in drilling and mining operations. The roller cone bit 10may be manufactured using conventional manufacturing techniques, such asmilling and welding, commonly used for roller cone bits. The legs 150 smay be forged or cast and welded together after the roller cones 100 a-care attached to the bearing system 140. The desired thread may then bemachined on the back of the roller cone bit 10 to form the threadedconnecting portion 400. The roller cone bit 10 may also be manufacturedby modifying existing roller cone bits, i.e., removing exterior nozzlesto create the desired concave surfaces and drilling the center port toreceive the nozzle.

In alternative embodiments, then body 200 may include fewer oradditional legs 150 and concave sides around its periphery. For example,the body 200 may include five legs 150 with a concave side 210 inbetween each of the five legs 150. For example, the body 200 may includetwo legs 150 with concave sides 210 between each of the two legs 150.

With reference to FIG. 3, the roller cone bit 10 includes a nozzle 300.The nozzle 300 extends from a center portion surface 310 of a centerportion 230 of the body 200. The nozzle 300 is centered between thecones 100 a-c. The nozzle 300 includes a nozzle or tube-like extension320. The nozzle 300 includes a nozzle opening 330. The nozzle opening330 disperses or sprays the drilling fluid. The nozzle 300 is in fluidiccommunication via lines or conduits through the roller cone bit 10 andthe drill string to receive the drilling fluids. A cross sectional viewof the roller cone bit 10 is shown in FIG. 4. The drilling fluid passesthrough an interior 405 of the body 200 that is in fluidic communicationwith a lower opening 332 of the nozzle 300. The drilling fluid is forcedthrough the nozzle 300 and discharged at the nozzle opening 330. Withreference to FIG. 1, the nozzle extension 320 extends from the centerportion surface 310 to just clear or just extend past the center cutter120 of the cones 100 a-c.

The nozzle 300 applies a high-pressure or a high volume of drillingfluid depending on the requirements for a specific drilling condition.This is accomplished by changing the nozzle 300. For example, a firstnozzle 300 with a first diameter may be replaced by a second nozzle 300with a second diameter. The larger the diameter of the nozzle opening330, then the more volume of drilling fluid will be supplied to the borehole. Likewise, the smaller the diameter of the nozzle opening 330, thenthe more pressure the drilling fluid will be supplied with into the borehole. The nozzle opening 330 may have a diameter of approximately 1/16inch to approximately ¾ inch, depending upon the requirements of thedrilling conditions.

The nozzle 330, with the smaller diameter, is useful when used in thehorizontal directional operations in which drilling conditions maychange rapidly from hard surfaces to soft surfaces. The nozzle 300, withthe smaller diameter, creates the higher pressure jetting action of thedrilling fluid, which washes a pilot hole in advance of the roller conebit 10 in the soft formations to allow the roller cone bit 10 to followthe direction created by the pilot hole. As the nozzle 300 is in thecenter portion 230, the nozzle 300 is not washing away the sidewalls ofthe bore hole. This helps to maintain directional control of the rollercone bit 10. The high-pressure jetting action also forces all drillcuttings from the center of the roller cone bit 10 to an exterior of thebit 10, which helps to protect the bearing system 140 of the bit 10.This helps to keep the drill face cleaner for a rapid penetration, asthe roller cone bit 10 is not regrinding drill cuttings.

The roller cone bit 10 further includes the concave sides 210. Thisconcaving of the body 200 between the legs 150 a-c, where flushingnozzles are typically located, increases the life of the roller cone bit10 and its rate of penetration into the rock or earth substrate. Theconcave sides 210 provide for the drill cuttings to pass through or bythe recessed areas 215 in the body 200 of the roller cone bit 10 andaway from the bearing system 140 of the roller cones 100 a-c. Theconcave sides 210 improve penetration rate because there is less chanceto regrind the drill cuttings because the drill cuttings have an easierpath of little resistance to follow in order to clear the cuttingsurface. The flushing from the center of the roller cone bit 10 out andup through the concave sides 210 performs a venturi effect to help suckthe drill cuttings away from the roller cones 100 a-c, while the rollercone bit 10 is drilling for maximum flushing.

The roller cone bit 10 will now be described with reference to thefollowing examples. A typical 5½ inch roller cone bit 10 may use thenozzle 300 with a diameter of approximately ⅛^(th) inch for a horizontaldirectional drilling operation. This nozzle 300 provides high pressureflow of the drilling fluid to blow away dirt in the soft formation tomake a pilot hole in the soft formation for the roller cone bit 10 tofollow. The nozzle diameter of ⅛^(th) inch still provides sufficientvolume of drilling fluid for the drilling of harder formations, whichdoes not remove as much drill cuttings, since the drilling speed isreduced. The same roller cone bit 10 may be used in a mining operationsuch as for coal or copper, and use a nozzle 300 with an approximately⅜^(th) inch diameter opening. This ⅜^(th) inch diameter opening providesa higher volume of drill fluids to remove cuttings from the miningoperation.

The roller cone bit 10 may have a fixed or changeable nozzle 300. Thenozzle 300 is in fluidic communication with the interior 405 of the body200 to receive the drilling fluid from the interior 405 of the body 200.The nozzle 300 includes the lower opening 332 to receive the drillingfluid from the interior 405, and the nozzle 300 includes the nozzleopening 330 to discharge the fluid. The nozzle 300 may pass through thecenter portion surface 310 and into the interior 405 of the body 200 tofluidly connect with the interior 405 to receive the drilling fluid. Thedrilling fluid is pumped through the drill string, to the interior 405,and out the nozzle 300.

The nozzle 300 may threadably connect to the center portion surface 310of the body 200 to provide a changeable nozzle. For example, as shown inFIG. 5A, a lower portion 325 of the nozzle 300 may include a threadedengagement surface 327 that engages an opening 312 in the center portionsurface 310. This nozzle 300 of FIG. 5A may be removed and exchangedwith a different nozzle 300 depending upon the drilling conditions. Forexample, the nozzle 300 with a first, smaller diameter may be unthreadedfrom the opening 312 and replaced with another nozzle 300 with a second,larger diameter. In other aspects, the nozzle 300 may be in a fixedengagement with the lower portion 325 of the nozzle 300 engaged to theopening 312 or to the center portion surface 310 via a variety ofmechanical fastening techniques. For, example, as shown in FIG. 5B, thelower portion 325 of the nozzle 300 may form a binding taper to engagewith the opening 312. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the lower portion325 of the nozzle 300 may be welded to the opening 312 in a fixedengagement. In other aspects, the nozzle 300 may connect at the centerportion surface 310 and receive fluid passing through the opening 312 ofthe center portion surface 310, with the opening 312 forming a passageor conduit to fluidly connect with the interior 405.

With reference to FIG. 1, the nozzle 300 extends to a point justclearing the center cutter 120 on the roller cone bit 10. The length ofthe nozzle 300 may be brought back to approximately one inch fromclearing the center cutter 120 in the roller cone bit 10. As the lengthof the nozzle 300 decreases, the risk of causing venturi effectincreases, which will create a sand-blasting effect by the drillingfluid that washes away the steel from the cutters 110, 120, and 130 onthe cones 100 a-c. This may result in failure of the bit 10. The actuallength of the nozzle 300 will vary depending upon the size and diameterof the roller cone bit. For example, on a roller cone bit 10 with a 6½inch diameter, the nozzle will have a length of approximately 2½ inches.

The roller cone bit 10 with the nozzle 300 allows for the drill cuttingsto have free passage up and through the concave sides 210 between thelegs 150 a-c. This encourages the drill cuttings to move from the centerto the perimeter 205 of the body 200 and away from the cones 100. Thisprovides for more efficient flushing and removal of the drill cuttingsby the drilling fluid.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the roller cone bit 10 includes threelegs 150 a-c and three concave sides 210. The roller cone bit 10includes the three concave sides 210 arranged at approximately 120degree intervals about the perimeter 205 of the roller cone bit 10. Thelegs 150 a-c and the three concave sides 210 are alternatingly arrangedabout the perimeter 205 of the roller cone bit 10. Said another way,there is one of the concave sides 210 between each pair of the legs 150a-c. This provides three passages or pathways for the drilling fluid toflush away the drill cutting from the bore hole. Importantly, thisdirects the drill cuttings away from the roller cones 100 a-c and thebearing system 140.

The roller cone bit 10 includes the nozzle 300 centered in its body 200.The nozzle 300 is a tubular member formed from steel and other alloyscommonly used in drilling and mining operations. The roller cone bit 10does not have nozzles around its perimeter 205.

It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particularembodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,various modifications can be made thereto without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is not intendedthat the invention be limited by the specification; instead, the scopeof the present invention is intended to be limited only by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A roller cone bit, comprising: a body havingconcave sides; and, a nozzle to spray a drilling fluid, the nozzlecomprising an extending portion and an opening, wherein the nozzle ispositioned in an approximately central portion of the body.
 2. Theroller cone bit according to claim 1, wherein legs are integrallyattached to the body, and roller cones are rotatably engaged to thelegs.
 3. The roller cone bit according to claim 2, wherein the concavesides are positioned adjacent to the legs to provide flushing of drillcuttings from a borehole.
 4. The roller cone bit according to claim 1,wherein the opening of the nozzle is positioned a distance from asurface of the body.
 5. The roller cone bit according to claim 2,wherein the legs and the concave sides are alternatingly arranged abouta perimeter of the roller cone bit.
 6. The roller cone bit according toclaim 2, wherein one of the concave sides is positioned between a pairof the legs.
 7. The roller cone bit according to claim 2, wherein thenozzle extends to a point approximately clearing a center cutter of theroller cone bit.
 8. The roller cone bit according to claim 4, whereinthe extending portion of the nozzle extends from a surface of thecentral portion of the body, and the opening is positioned away from thesurface of the central portion of the body.
 9. The roller cone bitaccording to claim 1, wherein the concave sides extend from an upperportion of the body to a lower portion of the body.
 10. The roller conebit according to claim 1, wherein a length of the concave sides isgenerally parallel to an axis of rotation of the roller cone bit. 11.The roller cone bit according to claim 1, wherein the bit comprises afirst nozzle with a first opening having a first diameter, wherein thebit comprises a second nozzle with a second opening having a seconddiameter, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter,the second nozzle provides a greater volume of drilling fluid, and thefirst nozzle provides the drilling fluid at a greater pressure.
 12. Theroller cone bit according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is removablyengaged to the body.
 13. The roller cone bit according to claim 1,wherein the nozzle is in fluidic communication with an interior of thebody, and a drilling fluid is forced through the interior of the bodyand into the nozzle.
 14. The roller cone bit according to claim 1,wherein the nozzle passes through a center portion surface of the body,a lower opening of the nozzle is in fluidic communication with aninterior of the body, and a drilling fluid is forced through theinterior of body and into the lower opening, and the drilling fluid isforced through the extending portion of the nozzle and is discharged atthe nozzle opening.
 15. A roller cone bit, comprising: a body havingconcave sides, an upper portion, and a lower portion; legs areintegrally attached to the body, and roller cones are rotatably engagedto the legs; the concave sides are positioned around an exterior of thebody, the concave sides extend from the upper portion of the body to thelower portion of the body, and the concave sides form gaps in theexterior of the body to provide passage of drill cuttings past the body;and, at least one of the concave sides is positioned between a pair ofthe legs.
 16. A method of drilling into a rock or earth formation,comprising: providing a roller cone bit, comprising: a body havingconcave sides; legs integrally attached to the body; roller conesrotatably engaged to the legs; the concave sides positioned adjacent thelegs; and, a nozzle, comprising an extending portion and an opening;wherein the nozzle is positioned in an approximately central portion ofthe body; wherein the opening is positioned a distance from a surface ofthe body; connecting the roller cone bit to a drill string; rotating theroller cone bit; directing fluid to the nozzle; and, flushing drillcuttings with the fluid past the concave sides.
 17. The method accordingto claim 16, further comprising directing drill cuttings away from theroller cones.
 18. The method according to claim 16, further comprisingmaking a pilot hole in the rock or earth formation with the drillingfluid from the nozzle.
 19. The method according to claim 16, furthercomprising adjusting an opening size of the nozzle to modulate pressureand volume of the drilling fluid.
 20. A roller cone bit, comprising: abody having concave sides; legs integrally attached to the body; rollercones rotatably engaged to the legs; the concave sides positionedadjacent the legs to provide flushing of drill cuttings from a borehole;and, a nozzle to spray a drilling fluid, comprising an extending portionand an opening; wherein the nozzle is positioned in an approximatelycentral portion of the body; and, wherein the opening is positioned adistance from a surface of the body.
 21. A roller cone bit to drill intoearth or rock, comprising: a body, the body including an upper portionand a lower portion, the upper portion including a threaded connectionportion to connect with a drill string to rotate the roller cone bit;three legs engaged to a perimeter of the body, each of the legs havingan end at the lower portion of the body; a roller cone rotatably engagedto the ends of each of the legs via a bearing system, wherein each ofroller cones includes an inner cutter, a center cutter, and an outercutter; the body having three concave sides extending from the upperportion to the lower portion, the concave sides positioned between thelegs, the concave sides forming gaps to flush drill cuttings; and, anozzle extending from the lower portion of the body to spray a drillingfluid; the nozzle comprising an extending portion and an opening;wherein the nozzle is positioned in an approximately central portion ofthe lower portion of the body; wherein the nozzle extends to a pointapproximately clearing the center cutter of the roller cone bit; and,wherein the nozzle is in fluidic communication with a fluid line or aninterior of the body.